THE REJECTION

CHAPTER THREE

Annabella walked into the restaurant and sighed out.

"You're late again." Aurora said.

"I guess I need a car at this point." Annabella muttered and Aurora chuckled.

"Get changed before the big mouth comes." Aurora said referring to their manager. The workers call her that because of her strictness and nagging spirit.

Annabella walked away into the changing room. She changed into their uniform, just a simple short gown but on Annabella, everything looks classic. After packing her hair in her usual ponytail, she came out.

"Gosh, I don't understand why you look so hot in that uniform girl." Aurora said staring at her, especially her hips which look wide and perfect.

"Oh please don't start Aurora, you see me in this everyday." Annabella rolled her eyes.

"I'm not surprised that you met Thadeus Storm." Aurora smirked and Anna sighed out, she wouldn't dare tell her that she also saw Gregor Campbell just now or she won't be able to rest today.

"Where are the girls? Kitchen?" Annabella asked.

"Yeah" Aurora muttered.

The restaurant door opened and a woman came in.

"Good morning ma'am! You're our first customer for today, what do we offer you?" Aurora asked loudly.

"Oh sorry, I came for something more important." Mrs Kim said and turned to Annabella who was just raising her head.

"Mrs Kim!" Annabella smiled.

"Oh you know her?" Aurora asked.

"Of course, we always meet at the grocery store." Annabella replied and immediately walked towards Mrs Kim.

"How are you today Mrs Kim?" She asked.

"I'm good my daughter." Mrs Kim smiled.

"So... what brought you here today Mrs Kim?" Annabella asked curiously.

"I have a proposal for you." Mrs Kim said and Annabella grew more curious.

"You see, I know you're a very hardworking girl and besides that, you're the first person who came to my mind as I was thinking, so please you've got to help me...I don't have enough time anymore." Mrs Kim said but Annabella was still confused.

"What do you want me to do for you Mrs Kim?" She asked.

"I need to take a short leave from where I work and I want you to replace me." Mrs Kim started explaining in details to her, skipping the part of where exactly she's working. 

"So, what do you think?" Mrs Kim asked.

"But...I can't be working here and there too..."

"Then quit working here." Mrs Kim cut in.

"I have to feed my mom, she's not too healthy to work on her own." Annabella said.

"How much pay do you get here monthly?" Mrs Kim asked.

"A hundred dollars." Annabella replied.

"But you will be paid a thousand dollars in a month where I work." Mrs Kim said and Annabella gasped loudly.

"What? A thousand dollars? Just for...being a maid?" She asked unbelievably.

"Trust me, you can think about it..."

"When do I start?" Annabella cut in and Mrs Kim smiled.

"Come here tomorrow morning." She handed an address to her.

"Tomorrow is Sunday." Annabella said.

"That's when my boss will be available, so come early tomorrow." She said and Annabella nodded.

"I will be there." She said.

Mrs Kim nodded and thanked her before walking out of the restaurant and Annabella walked back to the counter.

One thousand dollars would feed them for few months and she will be able to return to school, isn't that right?

"Oh Annabella, you can do this." She mumbled and bit her bottom lip. 

••••

As Wright climbed down the stairs, his headphones was hanged around his neck and his two hands tucked into his trousers. He had a cap over his head and was chewing gum... he can't really do without them. He was looking so rich and hot just like the usual Wright Storm. 

He got downstairs and met his granny in the living room. He stays here alone most of the times and just few days in a year, his granny would come to stay over just to take care of him.

Granny Paulina is in her late seventies but act like she's forty. The mansion is under Wright's name anyways, it was his eighteenth birthday gift from Thadeus but he only moved in when he clocked twenty.

Thadeus was just nine years old when their parents died in an accident while Wright was just a baby of eight months. Since then their grand parents took full responsibilities over them until Thadeus turned eighteen and moved out to work just to fend for his little baby brother and himself. 

"Morning granny!" Wright smiled handsomely and hugged her.

"Get off!" Granny Paulina snapped and Wright pouted.

"What have I done again?" he asked.

"What is a new car doing in this compound?" Granny Paulina asked and Wright blew the gum in his mouth.

"I've always wanted a red car..."

"You promised me you won't bring anymore car here! There are almost hundred cars in the compound and you barely use them all. Do you want to wreck your brother? You don't even know how hard he works to send you to that expensive school. Gosh! when will you change? Huh?" Granny Paulina shouted.

"I already promised that I won't take anymore cars, just this last one granny." Wright said.

"Return all those cars!" Granny snapped.

"They are mine." Wright said cutely.

"Gosh...my chest" Granny Paulina said and Wright immediately rushed to the dinning room, he returned with a pill and glass of water.

She took the pill and drank the water.

"You won't kill me before my time you naughty boy." Granny Paulina said.

"Oh...I'm almost late granny. See you later." Wright blew her a kiss.

"Breakfast young master." One of the maids walked in.

"Give granny her food." Wright said and walked out.

He entered the garage and entered one of his favorite cars, it's a pure white Benz. He dropped his bag on the passenger seat beside him and drove out of the mansion.

••••

Wright parked his car, he took his bag and stepped out. Immediately the students started calling his name and hailing him from every angle.

🗣 "Wright Storm!"

🗣 "He's so handsome!"

He smiled and waved at them.

🗣 "Gosh his mine!"

🗣 "He's killing me!"

🗣 "So hot!"

🗣 "I love you Wright Storm!"

🗣 "Just date me please!"

Lonnie also appeared and the students started screaming his name too but most attention were on Wright. 

Lonnie got close to Wright and they both stared blankly at each other as usual, they never exchanged words or fight but the students all believe these two doesn't like each other, not even a bit. All they do is stare at each other in an unfriendly way.

"Hey jerk, I've been waiting for you!" Adam, Wright's best and only friend jumped on him from the back.

"Gosh dude come on!" Wright groaned and Adam laughed before getting down from his back.

"I missed you baby." he pecked his cheek and Wright frowned. Adam would do anything just to annoy him and he would never get used to it cos he kept on growing even more annoying everyday.

"Don't talk to me today Adam." Wright said, wiped his cheek and started leaving.

"It's not my fault that you're so handsome! I would date you if I am a girl you know." Adam said and ran after him.

"You can turn gay instead, fool!" Wright scoffed and Adam laughed.

••••

"He's coming!" Daisy said getting Melanie's attention.

They all turned at once to see Lonnie walking toward them.

"Gosh I'm nervous." Melanie muttered.

"Babe, the plan is not to talk to him, just go with the plan. I'm sure he also likes you, who wouldn't like the almighty Melanie Campbell?" Alyssa said and Melanie sighed, she arranged her hair and walked out of the empty class they are. 

Lonnie was already getting closer and her nervousness increased every second, the moment Lonnie was about getting to her, she slipped.

"Ahh!" She screamed as she began falling.

Eventually, both Lonnie and Wright were close to her, they immediately rushed to help her but Wright was faster and Melanie fell directly on top of him and their lips met.

The students all gasped.

🗣 "They kissed!"

🗣 "Their lips just met!"

🗣 "I'm so jealous of Melanie right now!"

🗣 "Oh My Gee!"

Melanie's eyes widened and immediately she jumped up and wiped her lips, she staggered but Lonnie caught her this time and Melanie faced him.

"Be more careful next time." He said and smiled.

Melanie swallowed and nodded gently swirling.

"Thanks." She said.

Lonnie smiled at her again before turning to Wright who Adam was already helping up. 

"You should at least say a thank you to me." Wright said 

"I never asked for your help." Melanie snapped.

"Oh wow! I guess I wasted my time." Wright scoffed and walked away with Adam.

Lonnie also walked away.

Daisy and Alyssa immediately rushed to Melanie

"Babe! You're so lucky, you didn't just get Lonnie's attention but Wright too!" Daisy said dreamily.

"Who cares about Wright? Did you see the way Lonnie smiled at me? So hot!" Melanie said and fanned herself.

"Seriously? Wright almost hurt himself while trying to save you for heaven sake." Alyssa said.

"Lonnie would have saved me if he wasn't there." Melanie rolled her eyes.

Alyssa sighed.

"Good for you." She said and walked away

"What's with her?" Melanie asked.

"You know how much she's crazy about Wright, she's just hurt... she would be fine." Daisy smiled and Melanie scoffed.

••••

Different camera flashed following Gregor as he walked out of the launching hall with Stella beside him. 

The launching of S9 just came to an end.

🗣 "Congratulations Mr Bells!"

🗣 "Congrats Gregor!"

Numbers of the billionaire guests who came continued congratulating and greeting him as they walked while Gregor tried his best to return the greetings until he finally came out. 

"Good job president." Stella said to him and Gregor replied with a nod.

"You too." He said and she smiled.

"There are a lot of orders already, I'm so sure this is going to be the best so far, I can't wait." Stella said.

Gregor nodded and they entered his office together.

"Uhm, President. The staffs are planning a party just to celebrate our latest achievement, would you like to join us?" Stella asked.

"No, I would be going home in thirty minutes. Tell them to have fun, everything is on me." Gregor replied.

"Okay sir." Stella muttered.

"You can leave now." Gregor said.

Stella bowed before leaving his office. 

••••

"Whoa! "Annabella exclaimed and covered her mouth as the security took her in.

She couldn't stop looking around wondering if they are in a palace or the president's house.

They continued walking till they got to the main mansion. 

"You can go in now." A guard told her as Mrs Kim already told them about the guest that is coming.

"Thank you." Annabella muttered and entered.

The moment she walked into the large living room she gasped at the wealth planted in there. 

"Gosh where am I? Heaven?" She thought.

"Who are you?" A tiny soft voice brought her back to reality and she turned around.

Alex was sitting on a couch, a laptop on his laps but he dropped it on the table when Annabella turned.

"Who are you?" Alex asked again, looking straight at her.

"Oh...I'm Annabella." Annabella said with a smile.

"And you? You look cute." She smiled.

Alex only stared at her blankly, ignoring her question. 

"Alex Is everything okay?" Gregor's voice came up and Annabella turned again.

"There's a stranger here daddy." Alex said and soon Gregor appeared with Casey on his back.

Annabella's eyes widened immediately.

"What the f**k!" She screamed in her head as Gregor stared at her blankly.

"Hi...Good...morning sir." She stammered and bowed

Gregor said nothing as if expecting more explanation.

Mrs Kim came in at that moment.

"Oh Anna! you're here." She said and Annabella felt relieved a bit. At least she has finally seen someone she knows.

"Yes Mrs Kim." She muttered. She was almost shaking trying so hard to avoid Gregor's face.

"Sir..I told you I was going to find a replacement soon." Mrs Kim said to Gregor.

"Get down Casey." Gregor said softly and dropped Casey. 

"So, she's the one?" He asked taking another glance at Annabella.

"Yes sir" Mrs Kim replied.

"Did he recognize me? Annabella thought hoping he won't reject her. She badly needs the money at the moment.

"We don't want her daddy." Casey suddenly said and Annabella looked at her.

Casey shot her one hateful glare which almost sent shiver into her soul.

"You don't want her?" Gregor asked.

"I don't like her, Alex doesn't like her either." Casey said .

"Come on Casey, you don't even know her. I'm sure you will love Annabella..."

"I can't like her!" Casey cut in.

"I don't like her also." Alex said.

Annabella swallowed, this time her eyes on Gregor as if expecting him to say something. But why would he accept when his two kids already rejected her?

"Look for someone else Kim." Gregor finally uttered and went upstairs without sparing Annabella another glance.